Securing device



Jne 6, 1939. I G, F, L GlLBER-r 2,161,464

SECURING DEVICE Filed Jan. 22. 193B PatentedlJune 6 1939 PTENT foi-Ficsy2.161.464 SECU RING DEYCE Gustave Franois Leon Gilbert,l Houilles,France Application January. 22, 193s, semi No. 186,311,

,In France January 25, 1937 5 claims.

The present vinvention relates to an improved securing device.

It is known that for assembling two metal sheetsof large dimensions bymeans of r-ivetsvit s is necessary to secure them together in adetachable manner at several points' before proceeding to drill theholes intended to receive the rivets,.

and then to drive in the said rivets.

. The preliminary securing of the sheets to be lo assembled is generallyeffected by means of nuts land bolts. This method of securing can onlybe carried out in the case of large sheets by at least two persons, onebeing occupied with the itting ofthe -bolts and the other with thefitting of the nuts. In,certain cases, in particular in aircraftconstruction, this method of securing is not only lengthy andcomplicated,`but also very difficult to carry out.

The subject 'of the invention is an inexpensive securing device of easymanipulation, by means oi' which it is possible to connect temporarilyemploying -only one hand, two or more metal sheets to be assembled byrivets.

The device according to the invention is Aessentially characterised inthat it comprises in combination a clip-like member having two resilientbranches and a rod slidably mounted with respect to the clip, the saidrod being intended to move the two branches of the clip together orapart according to the position which it occupies with respect tothe'branches 'of-,the s aidf clip.

In,order that the invention may more readily Furthermore, .when the twobranches 5 and 5 m have been moved-'together (Fig. 4) they have at theirupper partl the form of a truncated'cone extended by a constricted partIt (Fig. 2) which in turn is extended by a lower part II also oftruncated cone form. u It should be noted that the largest diameter ofthe truncated cone portion II `must at the most be equal, when the twobranches 5 and 5 have been brought together, to the diameter ofy theholes drilled in the sheets to be temporarily 20 assembled. l

The clip 3 is preferably formed by cutting and shaping from a metalblank. f

The rod I has at one of its extremities .a screwthreaded cylindricalpart I2 and terminates at 25 its other extremity I3 in the form of apoint. Between the'two extremities of the rod 4 is provided aconstricted portion. I4.

The largest diameter of the point I3 is greater than the diameter of thecylindrical part I2, this 30 diameter being, however, at the most equalto that of the hues armed in the sheets l and z tofbe be understood andcarried into practice embodif assembled.

ments thereof will now be described, solely, by 36 way'- of ,examplewith reference -to the accompanying drawing, in which: I Fig. 1 is anelevational view of the securing` device in the position in which itdetachably connects two sheets together, 40 Pig. 2 is a proille viewrcorresponding tol that 0f, Fig. 1, 1

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view corresponding to that o fFig.-1,

Fig. 41s a view similar to that shown in Fig. 3,

"\\\4li showing the device in thepositioninwhich the w ches of the clipno longer connect the two she 1 "stogether,u and Fig. 5 is a sectionaewon the line V-V of Fig. 3, showing the sectioroHhe two branches Aoi' 50the. clip.-

As is shown, the rod Il traverses the part 1 of ythe clip 3 in asubstantially axial,` direction.

The screw-threaded part I2 receives a'nut I5; a spring I6 being providedabout the rod 4 and being interposed between the lower face of the nutI5 and the upper face of the part l of the clip. l n

The tension of the spring I5 vis such that in the position of rest thepointl I3 is disposed between the branchs 5 and 5 at the level of thetruncated Acone II. It should be noted that in this position the largestdiameter of the said 45 truncated cone. portion is greater than thediameter of the'holes drilled in the sheets I and 2 to be assembled.

The device described is utilised in the following manner? Accordingtothe Aconstructional example 1 when the two sheets l and z toreassembled `trated, the securing device intended, as has been stated,for temporarily and detachably connecting two sheets, such as I and 2,is formed of a clip- 5 like member designated generally by Sdn Figure 2,

` with respect to n drilled with a certain number otholes lying opposonev another, the rod I` is shifted iaclip 3 in order to place the 1device in position, so thitheconstrieted' part Il l.

fioree as indicated, also act by thrust.

l of the two branches i and I o! the clip 3 in the holes made'inthesheets i and 2.

When the securing device has been introduced as-above described into theholes in the sheets l and 2, it is sumcient to cease exerting pressureon the rod I to enable it, under the action of the spring I6, to take upthe position in which it is shown in Fig. 3. At 'this moment, thesecuring device can no longer be disengaged from the holes i'n thesheets I and 2. In order to increase the pressure exerted by thebranches 5v and B of the clip in the said holes it is sufiicient tocompress the vspring Ii by screwing the nut l5. Inl order to remove thesecuring device, the above described operations are repeated in theopposite sequence.

Although the securing device described is more particularly intended forthe temporary connection of two sheets to be assembled by rivets,y it isobvious that this securing device may alsobe utilised for'holding inposition any' members requiring to be-detachablyv secured. Thus, forexample, the device could be utilised as a capattaching device,

v The rod lmoving the branches 5 and fof the clip I apart could, insteadoi' acting by tractive In the same way, the rod l, instead of causingthe branches I and 8 of. the clip I to move apart in the positionof/rest, could act in the inverse sense.

It is obvious that the invention isin nowise i limited to theembodiments. which have been more especially described by way *ofexamplefbut s). that it extends to all possible modifications coming,iairly, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device to secure plates together a re-V silient member formed bya clip havingy two branches, a rod slidably mounted with respect to thesaid clip, said rod being provided with means 'enabling to `move apartsaid branches according to the position which it occupies with respectto the branches of thevsaid clip.`

i 2. In a device to-secure plates together a resilient member formed bya clip having two branches of semi-circular section joined to a fiatpart by two curved parts forming a spring, a rod slidably mounted withrespect to the said clip, said rod being provided with means enabling tomove apart said branches according to the position which it Y occupieswith respect to the branches of the said clip.

3. In a securing device -according to claim 2, said branches having inlongitudinal section the form of two parts of truncated cone shapeconnected' by a constricted part, said plates received in saidconstricted part.

` 4. In a device to secure plates .together a resilient clip formed bytwo branches of semi-circular section joined to a flat part by twocurved parts forming a spring', a rod traversing said at part andslidably mounted with respect to the said clip, and a spring interposedbetween the upper face of said at part and al member carried by saidrod. i

5. In a securing device according to claim 4 said rod comprising a screwthreaded cylindrical extremity connected by a constricted part to a partin the form of a; point. v

.GUSTAVE FRANCOIS LEON GILBERT.

